As Kansas lawmakers battle over abortion, Medicaid expansion could be casualty

By SJ Otto

Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle wants to move up to being a US Senator. If there is any way possible, we need to stop her. She has persistently blocked Medicaid expansion in Kansas. She has worked full time for that. But now she wants the Kansas legislators to support an anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas constitution and will hold up Medicaid expansion until she gets it.  According to The Wichita Eagle:

“Minutes after an anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution failed in the House, Senate President Susan Wagle made clear the consequences.

In a nearly empty Senate chamber Friday afternoon, the Wichita Republican sent more than a dozen bills that could be used as legislative vehicles for Medicaid expansion back to committee, ensuring they won’t be passed anytime soon.

“We will not take up Medicaid expansion until the amendment is on the ballot,” declared Wagle, who running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.”

There should be no place for such Demagoguery as was on display by Wagle. As with our idiot President Donald Trump, she is an example of right-wing vindictive treachery, looking for revenge because she did not get her way on abortion. She is willing to sacrifice the lives of 150,000 people for her own selfish political ambitions. Also in the same article:

“For advocates of Medicaid expansion, hope had been growing that victory was finally within reach after years of setbacks. A deal struck by Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican, late last year paved the way for expansion in 2020, or so they thought.

All of it is now in doubt. Amid rising tensions, lawmakers fled the Capitol for the weekend with neither side signaling it planned to give in.

Responding to Wagle’s actions, House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, said the senator was being “pretty childish to pull that.”

“You’ve got 150,000 Kansans that have been waiting seven years for the passage of Medicaid expansion,” Sawyer said. “It’s unfortunate that she’s going to make them wait longer.”

Even some Republicans are upset with Wagle’s Childishness:

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican, late last year paved the way for expansion in 2020, or so they thought.

“I believe in the legislative process,” Denning tweeted. “Her statements are obstructive and not how we should be governing.”

It is hard to imagine that a politician can all him or herself “pro-life” and oppose Medicaid expansion. That policy will save lots of people’s lives. Not supporting it means that a lot of poor people will die early in their lives without their needed health care. This is another example of “pro-life” not really being pro-life at all.

This is the future for working poor under Kansas health care.

Pix by Suspected Treasure Valley Graveyard Thief Apprehended | Boise .